Conference on freedom of press is held in Vienna

A conference on the work of the media in crisis conditions is held on June 19-20 in the capital of Austria.

VIENNA (QHA) -

The crisis in and around Ukraine, with its inherent problems concerning the safety of journalists, continues to contribute to a serious crisis in media freedom issues and the observance of professional ethics by media professionals, with its rampant consequences which impacts the whole OSCE region, according to the event description.

The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media again gathers experts to assist journalists and Ukrainian authorities, as well as those who are affected by this conflict at a particular point in the region, and to help overcome the most common and intractable media problems associated with peace, cooperation and security.

In Vienna, journalists and media experts will discuss how misinformation and propaganda affect the efforts to reach peace and reconciliation processes and how they undermine the foundations of the journalistic profession and democracy in general.

Furthermore, the conference is expected to identify the most appropriate legal and political response measures that are in line with OSCE standards on freedom of expression, including media freedom.

The conference participants will make practical recommendations on the development of tools on issues related to coverage of conflicts and wars, the safety of journalists and impunity for crimes committed against them, accreditation of journalists and their access to information in conflict zones, so-called fake news, disinformation and propaganda in conflict situations, as well as the development of media and computer literacy as an "antidote" to them, self-regulation of the media in conflict, more common issues on regulation of media activities and the strengthening of trust between journalists belonging to different parties to the conflict.

This event can be considered as one of the steps after the conference "The Security of Journalists, Freedom and Media Pluralism in Conflict", organized by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media in Hofburg, Vienna, June 15-16, 2015.